More Like A Memory

{23}

Peggy POV

The mill was quiet. John hadn't arrived yet, meaning I had time to think.

I felt different knowing that the entire friend group had been torn.

We all walked into high school alone, with no friends. We were scared. We were stupid. We thought stupid things were cool. I remember it like it was yesterday.

~ Beginning of Flashback ~

I gulped, staring at the big double doors. The name of the high school was plastered above them, slightly off centered.

I stepped inside and got my schedule, found my locker, blah blah blah, and sat down in my desk for the first class of the day.

The class was boring, just as I expected it to be. But I was still happy and excited. I would be attending that class everyday, and I knew each day would be unique. Unless my teacher was that dude from that one Vine. Y'know, the one where the student records the teacher walking into the classroom, and each time, all he said was "hi" over and over again. Or was it "Good Morning"? I can't remember. However, sometimes I wonder if the video stopped because it reached six seconds or because the teacher died. If he did die, did they play the clip at his funeral?

"Peggy!" I heard a familiar voice exclaim.

I snapped back into reality, realizing I was in the cafeteria, sitting alone.

"Eliza?" I turned around.

"Peggy, how was your first day so far?!" She pulled me into a bear hug.

"It was good until now," I rolled my eyes playfully.

Eliza laughed as she sat down next me.

Soon, a few other people joined her.

A guy wearing a shirt with tiny French flags scattered into a pattern, a guy with long curly hair and freckles, A guy wearing a grey beanie, and my older sister Angelica.

Eliza and Angelica were a year ahead of me, so I suspected that their friends were a year ahead too. However, that year I planned on doing well enough to skip a year so I could graduate with them.

I listened in on everyone's conversation and laughter, finding these people quite enticing.

Soon, I made a bit of conversation, and I could tell that they liked me already.

I smiled at the thought.

~ End of Flashback ~

Next, I thought about the fact that I would be graduating in two months. However, I wouldn't be with the same friends I had began with.

It sucked, but wasn't that how high school worked? I mean, if you're lucky I guess things might turn out better.

"Sup Pegs," I heard John sit down next to me.

"Sup,"

We sat there in silence for a moment.

"I miss Alex," He mumbled, and I knew he was being truthful.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't have cheated on him?" I shrugged.

"It was an accident. I wasn't thinking. And even if he doesn't forgive me, I still want to be his friend. He's too good to lose..."

"Try explaining it to-"

Our conversation was cut off by Martha and Maria walking in, laughing about all sorts of things.

"Sup dudes! Guess who brought alcohol?" Maria cooed, took the bottle out of her bag, and shook it slightly as if she were bribing us.

"You," John pointed.

"Got it right!" She took her arm around his shoulder.

I think she had already drank.

About an hour later, we were hooting and hollering.

John POV

"And then I was all like, hell nah!" I laughed.

Everyone laughed so hard, Peggy even snorted.

"Tell some more jokes!" Martha grinned.

"Alright what's your favorite food?" I inquired.

Everyone looked at me funny, but I heard an array of answers being thrown at me.

"Really? Because my favorite food is a power outlet,"

"How do you eat a power outlet?" Maria raised a brow.

"With a fork and a knife!" I exclaimed.

Laughter erupted, making it sound like the entire group was there.

"C-Can I talk to you for a moment?" Martha asked me, stifling the rest of her laugh.

I nodded, and she pulled me outside.

"I know this may sound odd, but I really like you,"

My heart didn't know how to respond. Didn't she know I was gay? I was unable to speak.

But I think she interpreted that certain fact wrong, because she leaned in, closed her eyes.

My heart screamed at me to do something, and my kind knew that it shouldn't make the same mistake again.

"No thanks," I muttered.

In that moment, I saw her expression drop, and pain glint in her eyes.

"O-Oh... sorry,"

I felt as if I was being watched, I think it was that awkward.

I turned away, instantly ready to go home.

"Tell the others I don't feel so well," I waved and walked away.

I heard her walk back into the mill, then rustling in the bushes near me.

"Who's there?" I asked cautiously, pulling out my pepper spray.

I guess the person realized that I had stuff on me, and spoke up, "P-Please don't hurt me. I came here to talk to you."

I recognized that voice from anywhere.

"A-Alex..?"

I saw him stand up, and step out of the bush.

"I um... heard about your plans at lunch, and decided to... I realized that sounds creepy," He mumbled, obviously nervously.

"Did you follow anybody here?"

"Yeah, Peggy,"

"So you heard and saw everything?"

"Yeah... please don't eat a power outlet,"

I knew what this meant. He had heard me talking about him with Peggy. This could end horribly or go pretty well, and I had no way of knowing which it'd be.

"Don't worry, I won't actually..."

"Bye the way, I heard what y-you..."

I knew what he was trying to say, and decided to speed things up a bit.

I kissed him.

And it felt more like a memory.